We first set eyes in Chris over 7 years ago. Mum was taking a pony down to the south of Ireland for a friend and I went with her to keep her company on the long trip. We were on a small windy road in Kildare and were nearly at the centre where the pony was to be dropped off, when mum suddenly braked and shouted out ‘Oh my God – What is THAT???’ – Then I saw him, he looked like a skeleton that had been sprayed with gold paint – Mum stopped the jeep and we both got out to have a closer look, we couldn’t believe that a horse could be so thin and yet still alive, well just about – he stood with his head nearly touching the ground and hardly looked up when we called to him. We thought he must have been very old and sick and as mum said, it was ‘none of our business’ really.

We went on our way and delivered the pony, but on the way back we talked about the thin horse we had seen and as we passed the field again on our way back, we noticed that the ‘skeleton’ was now laying down – but it was raining and we knew it wasn’t normal for a horse to lie down in mud, in the rain. So, mum, being mum, drove round all the nearby houses until she found out who the horse belonged to – we eventually found a man who said it was his and that he was taking ‘it’ to the sales soon, as ‘it’, ‘ had thrown him off and broken his leg last hunting season and he didn’t want it any more’ – and before I could blink, mum had ‘done a deal’ with the man and the ‘golden skeleton’ was ours!!

On the way back, I looked at the passport that the man had given us – the horse was called ‘Crystal City’ – I thought it was such a ‘grand’ name, for such a poor horse!!
We decided that his stable name would be Chris.

When we arrived home with him, dad nearly did his nut!! – We got the vet out straight away and he said that he was in such bad condition that he probably wouldn’t have lasted more than another couple of weeks! – He worked out a feeding programme for him and gave him steroid injections, as his muscles were so wasted.
Chris was very nervous of people and we had to be very quiet when handling him, but bit by bit, he came round and eventually started to put on weight and muscle. He seemed to trust me the most for some reason, so after about 6 months, when he was starting to look like a ‘proper’ horse, mum said I should be the first one to ride him.
At first, he seemed to only know ‘jog’ and ‘gallop’ (the 2 ‘hunting paces’!) but he was so willing to please, that we soon had him riding really nicely.

I loved riding him so much, and he was so well-behaved that mum let me take him out to some competitions – we went showjumping and eventing, which he loved – Mum knew that when we went out on the X-country course that he would always carry me round safely. He was a perfect first horse for me.

I competed him for about 3 years – we had so much fun and he loved every minute of it – one day he went missing from his stable and we found him standing in the horse lorry!! – the ramp had been left down, and there he was in his ‘place’ standing patiently waiting to go out! – he became quite a character, he could open any bolt, clip, or knot and would often let himself in from the field if it was cold or raining – he would come into the yard and go into his stable, turn and stand in the doorway looking out, as if to say ‘right, I’m in now, close the door, please!’ and if was raining in the morning at turn-out time, he would refuse to come out of his stable until the rain stopped!
Recently though, he became very stiff behind, the vet said that he had arthritis, so we decided to retire him from competition – he was turned out with the others every day, but still demanded to come in to his stable every night ! He kept the young horses company and taught them manners in the field – any messing about from them was brought to an immediate halt, with one of his ‘glares’, but he was never aggressive towards another horse, or human.

I think that he loved being part of our ‘family’ – and although we did save him, he paid us back a million times over – and more! It was an absolute pleasure to have known him - and I miss him soooooooooooo much

Here he is - my lovely Crystal City

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Beautiful, beautiful horse,who was meant to be in your care..................his leaving will always leave a hole, but what fantastic memories and pictures you have to remember him by.

RIP Crystal City

Chris

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I love the look on his little face as he's going through the water.

what a lovely tribute to a fantastic little horse.
rip chris

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"there is as much horse sense as ever...... But...... the horses have most of it"

That's an amazing story, Starjump.
How lucky you both were to find each other but for such totally different reasons!

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"Friday's child is loving and giving"

What a deeply moving story about Chris, SJ!!! From his pictures he looked gorgeous, brave, strong, & daring - what a tremendous turnaround you & your mum brought about!!! The reading of it brought tears.

RIP Crystal City - you were, & still are, the love of your girl's heart!

Rochelle

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"Our horses know our secrets...we braid our tears into their manes & whisper our dreams into their ears." Anonymous

Oh, SJ, cried my eyes out reading this. You were so lucky to have found each other. A very moving story and the pics are fantastic.

Hang on to your memories, they'll help you through. It will get easier, and you'll never forget him.

RIP CHRIS

You are all so kind
I feel a bit better now about losing Chris - I know that it would not have been fair to let him suffer any more - and that no matter how long he had lived, I would still have wanted him for longer
I have a lock of hair from his tail and will sleep with it under my pillow for ever
It really helped to share my grief with others who understand
I think it's lovely that you all care about someone you haven't even met
Thankyou

o sj what a lovely story, had me in tears ! and i had a laugh at him deciding if an when he went in or what he just sounds perfect ( ya can get perfect horses cant ya lol)

bless him and you for giving him a life he was finally able to enjoy

debbie

Wonderful tribute Starjump, wonderful.
You have such special memories there,
Thank-you so much for sharing them with us xx

RIP Chris xx

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